Pinkel gets raise, contract extension at Mizzou

COLUMBIA, Mo. — After guiding Missouri to a seven-win improvement and an appearance in the SEC championship game, coach Gary Pinkel signed a contract that boosts his annual salary above $3 million and extends his previous deal by three years to the end of the 2020 season.

The new deal announced Thursday increases his guaranteed salary from $2.8 million to $3.1 million, plus $300,000 in deferred compensation and a $100,000 raise each season. It also boosts the total salary of his assistant coaches by another $540,000, to $3.2 million, including $50,000 raises for offensive coordinator Josh Henson and defensive coordinator Dave Steckel.

“I’m very honored and proud to be the coach at Mizzou, and I appreciate the opportunity,” Pinkel said in a release. “It’s important for our program to keep moving forward and build on a solid foundation.”

The 61-year-old Pinkel, who served as assistant coach under Don James at Washington, is 102-63 in 13 seasons at Missouri and surpassed Don Faurot last season as the school’s winningest coach. The Tigers finished 12-2, tying the school record for victories, and won the SEC’s Eastern Division title in their second year in the league after going 5-7 in 2012.

The school is in the midst of a $200 million facilities upgrade largely related to football.

“It is important for us to be able to recognize what Gary and his staff have achieved,” athletic director Mike Alden said.

Missouri won the Cotton Bowl and finished ranked No. 5, second best in school history. The program boasts a high graduation rate, with 95 of 97 players who’ve exhausted eligibility since 2008 earning a degree.

The contract calls for the same base salary of $350,000 with incentives that could pay him an additional $1.825 million per season. Among them are $200,000 for winning the SEC title, $200,000 for playing in a BCS/playoff bowl, $400,000 for playing in the national title game and another $50,000 for winning the championship.

There are also escalating bonuses of $50,000 for nine wins, $100,000 for 10 wins, $150,000 for 11 wins, $200,000 for 12 wins, $250,000 for 13 wins and $400,000 for 14 wins, plus bonuses based on ticket sales.